Tyrone Club Football and Hurling

[maddog]

Speaking of which...

Whats the deal with Sion Mills??

Obliviously its a cricket stronghold. But its a decent size of population with a relevant background, you also have Victoria Bridge there as well.

I know a fella from there who was well into football (Strabane man) but you'd think there'd be players there for their own club

There used to be a team in The Glebe (Just outside Sion). However it's a village that has no real GAA heritage. Some people from there would probably gravitate to Urney and a few to Strabane. With Urney struggling at underage for numbers it would be a natural resource for them to tap into for players. Soccer is fairly popular there with Sion Swifts and The Glebe having teams so they would struggle a wee bit to get numbers regardless.

IIRC there used to be a team called Glebe that fielded at underage level at least around the late 80's & early 90's - we beat them in an under 14 league final around that time. There also used to be another underage team around the same area called Mourne at roughly the same time - I remember playing for Fintona under 12's back then, reading in the Ulster Herald that we were to travel to play them. For some odd reason at the time, I was thinking we were going to play a game in Co. Down! 

As Norf says, Sion Mills doesn't really have any GAA history, it's a place where soccer & cricket are dominant. Also worth remembering that Strabane Sigersons are one of the youngest clubs in the county, only starting out fielding underage teams first in 1983 and only had an adult team I think from 1987 onwards. There had been football and hurling teams from the town in the past, but there was a big lull in GAA activity there from around the 60's to early 80's. I remember reading an article written by a Sigersons club man that what spurred them on to field adult teams was that when Tyrone reached their first All-Ireland in 1986, it was a bit embarrassing that the second biggest town in the county, and given its demographics, had no adult Gaelic football team. It spurred them on to also work hard at youth level and they were winning grade 1 titles by the 1990's.

Never knew that about Strabane. Always thought they were long standing club.

Derrytresk and Derrylaughin is a strange one. Aren't both those clubs virtually on top of one another?

And Brocagh Emmetts are on top of them again

[LeoMc]

One look at club map would show that clubs in the east are at a disadvantage due to the close proximity of numerous clubs.  Prime example coalisland and clonoe can see each other's pitches when standing in either of them but have won 17 championships between them.  Some going considering the the catchment areas of some western clubs.

One look at a map would show you Dublin (350sq miles) has a smaller catchment area than Tyrone (1200sq miles).

amazing how successful Dublin are considering how small a county it is.lol. big catchment area does not mean big population.

Comparing apples and oranges there don't you think?  An exception rather than the rule considering it's the capital.  Do you not agree that the east club's are much closer together?

The pitches are closer together but my point was it is population, not geographic spread which would determine the size of a club. Fields cannot play football.

[Localexpert]

One look at club map would show that clubs in the east are at a disadvantage due to the close proximity of numerous clubs.  Prime example coalisland and clonoe can see each other's pitches when standing in either of them but have won 17 championships between them.  Some going considering the the catchment areas of some western clubs.

One look at a map would show you Dublin (350sq miles) has a smaller catchment area than Tyrone (1200sq miles).

amazing how successful Dublin are considering how small a county it is.lol. big catchment area does not mean big population.

Comparing apples and oranges there don't you think?  An exception rather than the rule considering it's the capital.  Do you not agree that the east club's are much closer together?

The pitches are closer together but my point was it is population, not geographic spread which would determine the size of a club. Fields cannot play football.

Well of course that's the case but it's not like coalisland/dungannon has much more population (if indeed there is a differemce) than say omagh/strabane.  So with a similar population more teams in that area makes it harder for clubs to get players.

It'll never happen but would love to see a parish championship/league fill the time during the summer that county team takes up. Be good exposure for all players to a high level of games during a boring time of year. 

Although we'd just be picking from coalisland and stewartstown because brackaville are useless and would rather play with their clonoe mates anyway

[Snapchap]

Maybe the wrong place to ask, but anyway - would there be available anywhere an even half-way detailed map of Tyrone with parish boundaries superimposed? Plenty of maps online with parish boundaries and plenty with towns & villages, but can't find one with both.

[BIGONE]

Jesus lads, start up another thread for this nonsence!

[oakleaflad]

Maybe the wrong place to ask, but anyway - would there be available anywhere an even half-way detailed map of Tyrone with parish boundaries superimposed? Plenty of maps online with parish boundaries and plenty with towns & villages, but can't find one with both.

https://twitter.com/gaafanzone/status/948573037699493889
One with club catchment areas

[Stall the Bailer]

Strabane must have near the biggest pick in the county number wise. 3 parishes if you include Sion Mills

[laceer]

Great discussion lads. Dungannon parish also has 4 clubs. Dungannon, Edendork, Killyman and Clonmore.

Killyman and Clonmore were a kick of a ball away from playing each other in the Ulster Junior final in '05. Monaghan Harps got a late winning goal in the semi final against Killyman and then beat Clonmore in the final.

[giveherlong]

Division 3 playoffs down for decision this Sunday

Beragh at home to Errigal 3rds
Eskra at home to Killeeshil

[deadman]

Attended the four semi-finals over the weekend.

Stewartstown v Augher
Thought this game would go down to the wire given the absence of Cassidy as a target man for Augher. They were much faster and fitter, especially after the break, and crucially they made the ball stick in the forward line, who were out in front and won every battle as they stretched out their lead. McElroy in midfield was physically superior and made a big difference.
The Harps on the other hand were just too slow in their attacking play, and guilty of a lot of handling errors. They had Dan Lowe in seriously hot form coming into this game, but he never got going at all, a combination of being well shackled and a short supply of ball. Another case of the Dungannon syndrome for Stewartstown, that's a right few championship defeats there in recent years.

Coalisland v Edendork
Edendork looked good for the victory for the majority of the game, but Fianna's championship experience came to the fore in the closing stages. In the first half Edendork certainly had the measure of the Fianna, Morgan was on a lot of ball and Paul Donaghy was a good target up top. McCurry again is a joy to behold when roaming around, getting on ball and spreading passes. Michael McKernan lucky not to walk on a black card for the Fianna, which might have had a telling factor on the game. Hampsey played most of the game way back in full back, thought he'd advance up the field in the second half much earlier as they were chasing the game. Young Pete Herron very promising, caught the eye last year and has come on a lot since then. McNeice and O'Hagan from dead ball will be key in the final for Coalisland.

Tattyreagh v Gortin
Cracking game this. Tatts played the majority of the football in the first half but looked hesitant to shoot a lot of time, wherasGortin found scores easier to come by, and they took their goal very well. Meanwhile Tatts scuppered two goal opportunities. It looked like that goal might be the difference all the way through but serious credit to Tattyreagh to battle back, they never panicked with kamikaze ball into the box, just kept playing their hand-passing game and took a stranglehold of midfield. Monster score in the end to win it and their supporters were loving it. Serious passion from the two Brackaville men on the line. Gortin will be seeing this as an opportunity lost for an Intermediate title, Keenan and McAnenly had them well drilled and they have had a good league campaign. They look youthful so can build on this I'm sure.

Ardboe v Killyclogher
Thought the Rossa's had done enough to win this, but a fortuitous goal swung it back to Killyclogher and Ardboe were dead on their feet in extra time. Michael Lynn, Michael O'Neill and Conall Devlin very impressive young players for Ardboe, they'll be hoping to build a future team around those guys along with Mulgrew and Cassidy. Coney was orchestrating, trying to prise Killyclogher open with big passes, some came off and some didn't. Mattie Bell's hit on Bradley was fair, both went in for the ball. Bradley should have been nowhere near it after that, he came back on dazed and looked absolutely out of it. Super point from McCann to win it, talk about leadership. Should be a tight final, with Coalisland having learned a few lessons from 2016 in how to handle Bradley.

[omaghjoe]

Speaking of which...

Whats the deal with Sion Mills??

Obliviously its a cricket stronghold. But its a decent size of population with a relevant background, you also have Victoria Bridge there as well.

I know a fella from there who was well into football (Strabane man) but you'd think there'd be players there for their own club

There used to be a team in The Glebe (Just outside Sion). However it's a village that has no real GAA heritage. Some people from there would probably gravitate to Urney and a few to Strabane. With Urney struggling at underage for numbers it would be a natural resource for them to tap into for players. Soccer is fairly popular there with Sion Swifts and The Glebe having teams so they would struggle a wee bit to get numbers regardless.

IIRC there used to be a team called Glebe that fielded at underage level at least around the late 80's & early 90's - we beat them in an under 14 league final around that time. There also used to be another underage team around the same area called Mourne at roughly the same time - I remember playing for Fintona under 12's back then, reading in the Ulster Herald that we were to travel to play them. For some odd reason at the time, I was thinking we were going to play a game in Co. Down! 

As Norf says, Sion Mills doesn't really have any GAA history, it's a place where soccer & cricket are dominant. Also worth remembering that Strabane Sigersons are one of the youngest clubs in the county, only starting out fielding underage teams first in 1983 and only had an adult team I think from 1987 onwards. There had been football and hurling teams from the town in the past, but there was a big lull in GAA activity there from around the 60's to early 80's. I remember reading an article written by a Sigersons club man that what spurred them on to field adult teams was that when Tyrone reached their first All-Ireland in 1986, it was a bit embarrassing that the second biggest town in the county, and given its demographics, had no adult Gaelic football team. It spurred them on to also work hard at youth level and they were winning grade 1 titles by the 1990's.

Also didnt know that about Strabane...interesting

I mind that about Glebe/Mourne/Urney. Always thought that was all just Urney, like a Cappagh/Killyclogher (Mountfield) scenario.
Still tho I thought there would be an opportunity there for a town of that size on the back of the 00s All Irelands to get something going even at youth level. But I suppose you need the local men on the ground doin it, you cant really force it to happen so much either

[WT4E]

What about Killyclogher - they have benefited greatly from the mountfield lads in the past. There would have been a big argument from the Lough club that they should have went that way. Would have been interesting to see if Lough could have got the big one if they had? Maybe bating Carmen in a final! 

[omaghjoe]

What about Killyclogher - they have benefited greatly from the mountfield lads in the past. There would have been a big argument from the Lough club that they should have went that way. Would have been interesting to see if Lough could have got the big one if they had? Maybe bating Carmen in a final! 

If your ma's your Da...

What if Greencastle took the Creegan lads, Beragh took the Tursallagh, Galbally took the Inishative.....

[omaghjoe]

Maybe the wrong place to ask, but anyway - would there be available anywhere an even half-way detailed map of Tyrone with parish boundaries superimposed? Plenty of maps online with parish boundaries and plenty with towns & villages, but can't find one with both.

https://twitter.com/gaafanzone/status/948573037699493889
One with club catchment areas

That looks to me to be the civil (COI) parishes

[Wee Roddy]

As Mountfield is in Cappagh parish they wouldn't have been eligible to play for the Lough.
What is interesting to me is if the Lough had not of split from Carrickmore whether our 1 team parish would have won the Ulster Club ala Errigal Ciaran.